India vs England Women World Cup 2017 Final: Within minutes of the result coming in, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to hail the Indian women cricket team's performance in the World Cup final.

India vs England Women World Cup 2017 Final: Within minutes of the result coming in, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to hail the Indian women cricket team’s performance in the World Cup final, and said that they gave their best. This came in the wake of England beating the Mithali Raj lead Team India by 9 runs today at the Lord’s ground. The Indian women’s cricket team let slip a historic title triumph with nerves getting the better of it in a tense summit clash against England, leaving Mithali Raj’s giant-slaying side with the runners-up tag for a second time in the ICC World Cup, here today, PTI reported.

Before the match, PM Modi posted a series of tweets in which he boosted the players morale by mentioning each and every one of them individually. “As our women’s cricket team plays the World Cup finals today, I join the 125 crore Indians in wishing them the very best,” he tweeted before the match began. An avid social media user, the prime minister then posted several other tweets, tagging players as well, to express his best wishes while also speaking about the strengths of the players. “Captain Mithali Raj has been leading from the front. Her cool approach to the game shall surely help the entire team,” he said in a post.

Our women cricketers gave their best today. They have shown remarkable tenacity & skill through the World Cup. Proud of the team! @BCCIWomen

He had special praise for Harmanpreet Kaur whose masterly innings in the match against Australia had propelled India into the finals.”Who is not a fan of Harmanpreet Kaur? Her stellar innings in semi finals will always be remembered. Do your best today!” he wrote.In one tweet, Modi referred to Smriti Mandhana who has had a steller tournament.”All the best @mandhana_smriti! Have a great game out there and play with calm and poise,” he said.

In his next tweet, Modi wished the very best to Poonam Raut. “Her game makes all of us very proud,” he said.He also wished good luck to Deepti Sharma saying she added “immense value to the team” and her game has changed the course of many matches.Modi also praised the “experienced” Veda Krishnamurthy, saying she gave a much needed stability to the middle order and wished her success.

He also lauded wicket keeper Sushma Verma. “Verma plays the important role of the wicket keeper. Remember, catches win matches,” he said.In another tweet, the prime minister referred to veteran Jhulan Goswami.”Jhulan Goswami is India’s pride, whose wonderful bowling helps the team in key situations. All the best Jhulan,” he said.

Modi also said that Shikha Pandey’s “all round performances” are crucial to the team and wished her luck.He also conveyed his best wishes for Poonam Yadav and Rajeshwari Gayakwad.Yadav’s fantastic bowling can be lethal for even the best batsmen, he said and added that Gayakwad is known for her economic bowling performances.

It was an anti-climactic result for India since they were well on course for a memorable triumph, sitting pretty at 191 for three in 42.5 before a batting collapse saw them bowled out for 219 in 48.4 overs. Needing just 38 runs off 43 balls,the Indian lower middle order committed harakiri losing seven wickets for 28 runs in 6.5 overs.

Opener Punam Raut (86) and Harmanpreet Kaur’s (51) steady half centuries had set the platform but once they departed it was far from a smooth ride as England’s consistent strikes turned it into a cliff-hanger. Veda Krishnamurthy (35 off 34 balls), Sushma Verma’s (0) and Jhulan Goswami (0) were dismissed in space of nine balls. Krishnamurthy had raised hopes with a cameo but her sloppy shot selection off Anya Shrubsole in the 45th over changed the script as it exposed the tailenders to a pressure situation which they could not cope with.

Nevertheless, Indian women team emerged as a force in world cricket with some inpsiring peformances such as Harmanpreet Kaur’s fearless strokeplay.